A17698:2282
Sermons upon Deuteronomy
The sermons of M. John Calvin upon the fifth book of Moses called Deuteronomy faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpit; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneva, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chief matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alleged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the fifth booke of Moses called Deuteronomie faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpet; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneua, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chiefe matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alledged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for George Bishop, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This law is set down likewise in the xxi. Chapter of Exodus. Notwithstanding, although God had spoken of it after that fashion; yet was the thing ill observed which he commandeth here. And hereby we see how malicious, hardhearted, yea and wilful stubborn the Jews were. For at such times as God punished them, & they were driven to resort unto him whether they would or no, they pretended a willingness to submit themselves to him, & to take some good way of amendment, [though they meant it not:] which thing among others he casteth in their teeth,1 saying: what? I have commanded you concerning your brethren that are your servants; that ye should let them go frank & free in the seventh year: but ye have not done it. Now then seeing that my law is set in state again, Let it be kept. In deed when men be pinched & constrained by necessity; then they can make some fair countenance & show well enough. Go to then, let servants be released: but immediately after they have shifts to bring them under coram again, as if a man should make a thief to creep under his arm, as who would say he should make restitution of his theft, & whereas he pretended to take it from him with the one hand he should convey it to him again with the other. After the same manner was God mocked with his own law, yea even notwithstanding that the Jews were punished extremely at that time, and saw well ⟨p. 589⟩that God persecuted them & did set himself against them because of their disobedience. As touching the bondservants that would not use the freedom that was granted them, we shall see more in the next sermon. But as touching the common law; the Jews were so full of malice, that they refused to give freedom to their bondservants.
This law is set down lykewise in ye xxi. Chapter of Exodus. Notwithstanding, although God had spoken of it after yt fashiō; yet was ye thing ill obserued which he commaundeth here. And hereby we see how malitious, hardhearted, yea and wilfull stubborne ye Iewes were. For at such times as God punished them, & they were driuē to resorte vnto him whether they would or no, they pretended a willingnesse to submit thēselues to him, & to take some good way of amendment, [though they meant it not:] which thing among others he casteth in their teeth,1